The White House launched an effort Wednesday to blunt the stinging critique delivered by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a new memoir, highlighting parts of the book that are favorable to the president while outside allies took aim at the author.

Mr. Gates's behind-the-scenes account, which depicted internal feuding and political calculation driving U.S. war strategy, surprised the White House, which received its first copy of the almost 600-page book Tuesday night. White House officials said they had no warning...